About Immaculate Conception · Springfield, Missouri
Immaculate Conception Parish is a Catholic community in Springfield, Missouri, and the oldest Catholic parish in the city, founded in 1868 at the request of Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick of St. Louis after Father Francis W. Graham investigated Southwest Missouri. The parish serves more than 1,000–1,400 households from its current campus at 3555 S. Fremont Avenue, where it worships in a modern church, chapel, community rooms and a prayer grotto, and operates an affiliated Catholic elementary school and pre-K. It belongs to the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau and offers daily and weekend Masses, regular confession, Thursday all-day Eucharistic adoration, livestreamed liturgies, OCIA, youth ministry, PSR (Parish School of Religion), confirmation preparation and a wide range of liturgical and parish-life ministries.
- Established
- 1868
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Very Rev. David Hulshof (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is the oldest Catholic parish in Springfield with a continuous 150+ year history of worship, schooling and service in Southwest Missouri, and today serves more than 1,400 families. Daily Mass Monday through Friday, three Sunday Masses, weekly confession, and Thursday all-day Eucharistic adoration give parishioners regular opportunities to encounter Christ, while OCIA, PSR, Confirmation prep and a lively youth ministry (with Upper Room nights, retreats like Steubenville, and the Acts Mission Team) form every age. Its affiliated Immaculate Conception School (Pre-K through elementary), strong music program, prayer grotto, and dozens of parish ministries — from lectors and Eucharistic ministers to Knights of Columbus, Social Concerns/Pro-Life and Stewardship — make it easy to find community and a way to serve.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Saturday 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
Parish History
Immaculate Conception is the oldest Catholic parish in Springfield, Missouri. Founded January 22, 1868 at the request of Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick of St. Louis, it grew from the 110 Catholics served by Father Francis W. Graham into a community of more than 1,400 families. The parish moved from Phelps Hall on Jefferson Street to a Gothic red-brick church on Campbell and Tampa (cornerstone 1884), then in the mid-20th century to its current home on South Fremont Avenue. The sesquicentennial in 2018 highlighted 150 years of parish life, and the diocese's records trace a continuous succession of pastors from Fr. Graham through the present Parochial Administrator.
- Founded Jan. 22, 1868 — first Catholic parish in Springfield
- Father Francis W. Graham celebrated Springfield's first Mass on March 9, 1866 in the home of William Dailey
- Gothic red-brick church at Campbell & Tampa (cornerstone 1884) was a Springfield landmark for decades
- Sisters of Mercy of St. Louis staffed the school from 1870
- School Sisters of Loretto ran the academy from September 1878 to summer 1919
- Mother parish of St. Joseph Parish (founded 1893 by Benedictine Fr. Maurus Eckstein for German-speaking Catholics)
- Celebrated sesquicentennial in 2018
Livestream Masses
The parish livestreams selected Masses so that the homebound, the sick and those unable to attend in person can stay connected. The Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 AM Masses and the Sunday 9:00 AM Mass are streamed live and remain available afterward on the parish's Livestream page. Streams can be watched through the parish website, Facebook and YouTube.
- Monday 8:30 AM
- Tuesday 8:30 AM
- Thursday 8:30 AM
- Sunday 9:00 AM
Clergy and Staff
Immaculate Conception is served by a Parochial Administrator, a Parochial Vicar, and a permanent Deacon, supported by an office and ministry staff.
- Very Rev. David Hulshof — Parochial Administrator (also Dean of Deanery 4, Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau)
- Rev. Nick Zummo — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Kevin Carroll — Permanent Deacon
- Heather Hayes — Administrative Assistant
- Janet Moentnish — Finance Manager
- Sharon Weidelman — Director of Family Life Ministries & Religious Education
- Dan Pfaff — Director of Confirmation & Youth Activities
- Leigh Ann Calhoun — Youth Ministry
- Doris Trotter — PSR Coordinator
- Hayden Vaughn — Director of Sacred Music
- Mani Brockmeyer — Youth, Bulletin & Records
- Becky Wieberg — Pastor's Secretary & Facilities Scheduler
Immaculate Conception Catholic School
Immaculate Conception Catholic School shares the parish campus at 3555A S. Fremont Avenue, Springfield, MO 65804, and serves Pre-K through elementary students. The school is part of Springfield Catholic Schools (scspk12.org) and is led by Principal Ashley Harris and Assistant Principal Lindsay Wright (school phone 417-881-7000).
- Address: 3555A S. Fremont Ave., Springfield, MO 65804-4237
- Phone: 417-881-7000
- Website: www.scspk12.org
- Pre-K through elementary program
- Principal: Ashley Harris
- Assistant Principal: Lindsay Wright
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Alongside the parish school, Immaculate Conception runs a Parish School of Religion (PSR) and OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — formerly RCIA) to bring both children and adults into the Catholic faith and prepare them for the sacraments.
- PSR — Parish School of Religion (Coordinator: Doris Trotter)
- OCIA — Inquiry begins in February; weekly sessions August through the Easter Vigil; Mystagogy after Easter
- Sponsors drawn from the parish community walk with inquirers through each stage
- Rite of Sending with the parish, then Rite of Election with Bishop Rice at the Easter Vigil
Confirmation Preparation
Catholics are eligible to begin preparation for Confirmation at the start of their eighth-grade year or older. A series of classes each Fall prepares candidates to receive the sacrament; anyone needing Confirmation is encouraged to call the parish office.
- Eligibility — start of 8th grade or older
- Classes begin each Fall
- Contact the parish office at 417-887-0600
Youth Ministry
The parish runs a robust Youth Ministry for grades 6–12, regardless of which school they attend. It includes weekly gatherings, the Acts Mission Team summer service program, retreats, and special monthly events.
- Grades 6–8 — Wednesday evenings 6:15–7:30 PM
- High School — scheduled Wednesday and Sunday evenings
- Upper Room Night — first Wednesday of each month (food, praise & worship, testimony, prayer)
- Mass/Gym Night — monthly Wednesday evening Mass followed by gym time
- Acts Mission Team — summer service and evangelization across Springfield
- Retreats — including Steubenville
- Parish events — Trunk or Treat, Easter Egg Hunt, Ash Wednesday Fish Fry
Liturgical Ministries
Lay parishioners serve the parish's worship life through a wide range of liturgical ministries. Training is provided for each role.
- Ushers and Greeters
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (also take Communion to the homebound and to those in nursing homes)
- Mass Servers (boys and girls in 5th grade and older; assist at Masses, funerals, weddings and holy hours)
- Security ministry — provides a safe environment for worship
Parish Life and Outreach
Beyond the sanctuary, parishioners serve on committees and councils that keep the parish running and extend its mission into the wider Springfield community.
- Finance Committee
- Parish Safety Council
- Parish Council
- Stewardship Committee
- Welcoming Committee
- Social Concerns / Social Action / Pro-Life Team
- Grotto Gardeners
- Heavenly Dusters (church cleaning)
- Money Counters
- Office Help
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed to attend any Mass and to greet the priests after Mass. The parish office can be reached by phone, email or in person during the week.
- Address: 3555 S. Fremont Ave., Springfield, MO 65804
- Phone: 417-887-0600
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon/Tue/Thu 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM; Wed/Fri 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- GPS: N 37° 08.912', W 093° 16.340'
- Livestream via website, Facebook and YouTube
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Francis W. Graham1868 (first pastor)
Appointed Jan. 22, 1868; also placed in charge of the Catholic Church in Southwest Missouri.
- Fr. Theodore Kussman
Second pastor; purchased land at Campbell and Tampa in 1873; opened the Loretto-staffed academy (1878–1919).
- Fr. Louis Portadied Feb. 22, 1892
Completed the Gothic church; first Catholic priest to die in Springfield.
- Fr. Maurus (Marcus) Eckstein, OSB1892–1893
Benedictine from Conception Abbey; after 14 months left to found St. Joseph Parish for German-speaking Catholics.
- Fr. John Lillyfrom 1893
Returned the parish to stability.
- Fr. William Brophyduring WWI
Shepherded the parish through the war years.
- Fr. Dennis O'Driscollfrom 1923
Kept the parish financially stable during the Depression.
- Fr. Michael Baumgartenfrom 1941
Chaplain at O'Reilly Veterans Hospital; ministered to the African-American community; oversaw demolition of the old Tampa/Campbell building.
- Fr. Joseph Brophyfrom 1957
Built the new church; raised funds for new school and rectory.
- Fr. John Rynishfrom 1968
Purchased land and laid plans for the new church buildings.
- Fr. Phil Bucherfrom 1977
Completed the building project.
- Fr. Stephen Schneider
Succeeded Fr. Bucher; fostered parish growth.
- Fr. Lewis Hejna
Succeeded Fr. Schneider; grew the parish beyond 1,400 families.
- Rev. Thomas P. Kieferrecent past
Listed in older parish bulletins as Pastor of Immaculate Conception before current assignment.
- Very Rev. David Hulshofcurrent
Current Parochial Administrator; also Dean of Deanery 4 for the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.